Spraying apparatus



W. M. RIPPLE SPRAYING APPARATUS A ril 23, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1965 mm mm A ril 23, 1968 w. M. RIPPLE SPRAYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1 9. 1965 April 23, 1968 w. M. RIPPLE SPRAYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 19, 1965 INVENTOR William M. Ripple BY j 4 g ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,379,377 SPRAYIVG APPARATUS William M. Hippie, Metairie, La, assignor to American Standard Inc, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Sea. No. 433,861 3 Claims. (Cl. 239-186) ABSTRAQT 3F THE DISCLOSURE A spraying apparatus for automatically applying a coating of fluent material to an article of manufacture wherein a trolley mounted on an elevated support rail carries a sprayhead which is operable to spray an underlying article of manufacture during reciprocal movement of the trolley and its sprayhead along the support rail.

This invention relates in general to a spraying apparatus, and more specifically to a spray apparatus for automatically applying a coating material, e.g., enamel glaze, and the like on an article of manufacture.

Many articles of manufacture such as green ceramic ware, e.g., water closet flush tanks, are quired to be sprayed with an enamel glaze. Heretofore, such articles of manufacture have been manually sprayed with spray guns. Such manual spraying operations of necessity varied from individual-to-individual so that a uniform coating of the spray material was not always obtainable. Also a manual spraying operation resulted in the spray material permeating the atmosphere and making it ditficult for the workers to perform a satisfactory spraying operation. Further, the air contaminated with spray material provided a hazardous condition for ones health. In addition, manual spraying operations required the handling of the ceramic ware in transferring the ware to and from a spray booth. As a result, such manual handling of the ware was tedious, time consuming and difiicult for the workers, particularly if such ware is heavy in nature e.g., a flush tank.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a spraying apparatus in which the articles of manufacture, as for example flush tanks of water closets, can be automatically handled and sprayed with an enamel coatmg.

It is another object to provide an automatic spraying apparatus for spraying articles of manufacture with a uniform coating of enamel glaze or the like in a relatively simple, ef'ricient, and expedient manner.

It is another object to provide an automatic spraying apparatus having provisions for moving a spray head relative to a stationary object coated so as to insure that a uniform application of the coating material is applied to the surface thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic spraying apparatus in which the operating mechanisms or moving parts thereof are protected from the material being sprayed.

It is another object to provide a spraying apparatus that is relatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which is positive in operation.

The foregoing objects, and other features and advantages of this invention are attained by a spraying apparatus comprising generally of a supporting structure which is adapted to be fixed to a spraying booth. The supporting structure supports thereon a rail means on which a trolley is mounted for movement back and forth therealong. In accordance with this invention the trolley comprises a carriage having wheels journalled thereon so as to be disposed in rolling engagement with the rail means. A spray head is operatively connected 3,37%,3??? Patented Apr. 23, 3968 to the carriage of the trolley so as to be carried thereby as the trolley is moved along the rail means. Accordingly, the spray head effects the spraying of the coating material to the article to be coated as the spray head is moved relative to the article. Drive means are provided for moving of the trolley and connected spray head back and forth along the rail means at a generally uniform rate with respect to the article to be coated. The drive means comprises a motor means which is connected in driving relationship to an endless drive which in turn is operatively connected to the trolley so that it will traverse a back and forth motion along the rail as the endless drive is actuated. If desired, means are provided for effecting an adjustment of the traversing movement or travel of the trolley. Also limit switches adapted to be actuated by the trolley may be provided for terminating the operation of the apparatus at the terminal travel limits thereof.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a spraying apparatus having a relatively simple driving mechanism for traversing the trolley back and forth across the rail means during a spraying operation whereby the spray head carried thereby is moved at a generally uniform rate relative to an object being coated.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a spraying apparatus in which the operating mechanism thereof is protected from the material being sprayed.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a relatively simple arrangement for adjusting the travel of the trolley along the rail means during a spraying operation.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a lan view of a moving line of articles of manufacture as they are fed to and from the spraying station utilizing the spray apparatus of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view of the moving line of manufactured articles shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of the automatic spray apparatus of the instant invention.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the spray apparatus of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, the spray apparatus 1% of the instant invention is particularly adapted for spraying ceramic ware, as for example flush tanks of water closets with a coating of enamel glaze that is subsequently fired to harden the same into a smooth, hard, easy to clean finish. Generally, ceramic ware, such as water closet flush tanks 12 are initially fired by passing them through a heating tunnel or furnace 14. As shown in FIG. 1 this is accomplished by placing the tanks 12 on a conveyor 16 which is progressively advanced through the heating tunnel 14. The arrangement is such that the speed of the conveyor 16 through the tunnel 14 is such that sutficient time is permitted to effect the loading and unloading of the tanks 12 therefrom as the conveyor 16 is intermittently advanced through the heating tunnel.

in FIG. 1 it is shown that the tanks 12 are carried on the tunnel conveyor 16 in columns of rows in which eight tanks are shown abreast in each row. As each row emerges from the heating tunnel 14 and the conveyor 16 is stopped the respective tanks 12 are individually trans ferred in sequence to straight line feed conveyor 18 which sequentially feeds the tanks 12 as will be described. A

manipulating device 22 is provided for lifting the tanks 12 from the tunnel conveyor 16 and transferring them to the feed conveyer 18. Accordingly, the manipulator 22 and the speed of the respective conveyors, 16, 18 are timed so that the tanks 12 are deposited on the feed conveyer 18 in equal predetermined spaced relationship and all facing in the same direction. See FIG. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, each tank has its respective back wall facing in the direction of travel of the feed conveyer.

The initial travel of the feed conveyor 18 with the tanks 12 thereon may be through an inspection station where the tanks may be either visibly or mechanically checked for defects. Thereafter the tanks 12 are successfully moved through a spray station 19a disposed in the line where the inside of ti e tanks, positioned thereat, may be coated with an enamel glaze.

As the tanks 12 are advanced to the end of conveyer 18, they are arranged by repositioning every other one of the tanks with respect to the next adjacent tank so that each succeeding two are paired in back-to-back relationship, such as described in copending application SN 434,008 filed Feb. 19, 1965, now US. Patent No. 3,286,810. The tanks so paired in back-to-back relationship are then transferred to a rotary conveyer means 24 which sequentially carries succeeding back-to-back pairs of tanks through a series of circumferentially spaced stations 26A, 26B, 26C, and 26D and 26E in a manner which is more particularly set forth in a co-pending application Ser. No. 434,085, filed Feb. 19, 1965, now US Patent No. 3,306,426.

In accordance with this invention, there is disposed in at least one of the circumferentially spaced stations, e.g. station 268, an automatic spraying apparatus which is constructed and arranged so as to provide a uniform coating of enamel glaze to the covers of the paired tanks.

As is more particularly set forth in the aforesaid US. Patent No. 3,306,426, the rotary conveyer 24 is provided with means for maintaining the back-to-back pairs of tanks stationary during the coating or spraying operation at station 263. Accordingly, the instant invention is specifically directed to the spray apparatus 18 adapted for use in spray station 268 to coat the sovers of flush tank for use in spray station 268 to coat the covers of flush tanks with an enamel glaze.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic spray apparatus 10 is disposed on the spray booth 28 so to be located above the pair tanks when the latter are positioned in spray station 2613. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the spraying apparatus comprises a support structure 30 adapted to be suitably connected to the structure of the spray booth 28. As shown, the supporting structure 30 comprises essentially a base member 32 which is substantially rectangular in shape. Connected to the opposed ends of the base member 32 are a pair of upright end supports 34, 36. Extend between the end supports 34, 36 so as to be spaced above the base member 32 is a hollow beam 38 that is substantially rectangular in crosssection, (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Secured to the upper and lower outer surfaces of the beam 38 are rail members 40. As shown, each of the upper and lower rail members 40 is provided with a substantially V shaped groove 41 extending substantially co-extensively along their respective rail lengths.

In accordance with this invention, a trolley 42 is mounted for movement back and forth along the rail members 40. As shown, the trolley 42 comprises a carriage defined by a pair of side plates 43 which straddle the sides of the beam 38. As shown, the carriage side plates 43 are defined as substantially rectangular members which are interconnected at the corners thereof by transversely extending shafts 44 forming axles for the wheels 46 by which the trolley 43 is disposed in rolling engagement with the upper and lower rail members 40.

As shown, the wheels 46 are rotatably journalled on 4. each of the shafts intermediate the length thereof so as to be disposed in alignment with the groove 41 formed in the respective rails 48. Accordingly, the wheels 46 of the trolley 42 are provided with inclined surfaces to complement the V shaped groove 41 of the rail members 41). To maintain the wheels 46 centered between the carriage side plates &3, suitable spacer sleeves 48 are disposed about the respective axles 44 on either side of the respective wheels to space the same from the carriage plates 43.

A spray head 50 is suitably connected to one side of the carriage so as to be carried thereby as the carriage traverses back and forth along the rail. The spray head 58 is shown connected to the lower end of a supporting column 52 by which it is carried on the carriage member. Accordingly, the spray head 56 may connected to a suitable supply of glaze material by a flexible conduit or the like (not shown).

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base member of the support structure is provided with an elongated slot 33 through which the lower end of the supporting column 52 on which the spray head 50 is connected extends. Accordingly, it is to be noted that the spray head 50 is thus disposed beneath the base member 32 to extend into the spray booth 28. Connected to the support column 52 is a cover plate 54 which is adapted to overlie the slot 33 in the immediate vicinity of the spray head 50. Thus cover plate 54 is arranged to be moved with the support column 52 over the slot 33 as the carriage or trolley 42 traverses the rail 40. In this manner, the base member 32 and the cover 54 for the slot 33 function as a shield to prohibit the sprayed material from accumulating on the operating parts of the apparatus.

If desired, a vertical. wall 55 circumscribes the periphery of the slot 33 and forms a support and slide for the cover 54 as the same moves with the trolley 42 as it traverses along the rails 40.

Means are provided for effecting the drive of carriage or trolley 42 back and iorth across the rails of the spray apparatus. In accordance with this invention, this is attained by a motor means 56 which is suitably connected to one of the end supports 36 of the support structure by a bracket 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor bracket 60 is adjustably connected to the end support 36 by a series of adjusting screws 62. 1

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor shaft 64 is operatively connected to a reduction gear box 66 through which it drives a driven sprocket or pulley 68.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the driving sprocket or pulley 68 is connected in driving relationship to a driven sprocket or pulley 70 which is fixed to a rotatably jornalled shaft 72 which extends transversely through the beam 38 at a point intermediate the ends thereof. A flexible drive, e.g., a chain or belt 74 connects the driven sprocket or pulley 68 in driving relationship with said driven pulley or sprocket 70. A second pulley or sprocket 76 is connected to the other end of the shaft 72. Spaced along the beam 38 as best seen in FIG. 3, is an idler sprocket or pulley 78. Accordingly, the spacing between sprockets or pulleys 76 and 78 is made substantially equal to the distance to be traversed by the trolley 42 along the beam 38. An endless drive in the form of a chain or belt 80 connects the idler sprocket or pulley 78 in driving relation with the driven sprocket 76. Thus it will be apparent that whenever the motor 56 is actuated, the drive of the endless chain or belt 80 is eliected.

Means are provided to connect the carriage of the trolley 42 to the endless drive or chain 80 threaded over the idler sprocket 7S and its associated driving sprocket 76. The arrangement is such that when the motor 56 is actuated and the endless chain 80 is placed in operation, the carriage connected thereto will follow the travel of the respective chain flighs 80A, 893, to pull the trolley 42 back and forth along the rails 40. The carriage connection comprises a vertically disposed slot 82 in one of the plates 43 through which there is extended a headed connector 84 which is secured to the chain 80 and which extends from a side thereof as shown in FIG. 4. The arrangement is such that as the chain 80 is driven about the respective sprockets 76, 78 the connector 84 connected thereto slides in the vertical slot 82 and is free to be displaced up and down therein as the carriage is pulled back and forth by the chain or belt 80. Accordingly, the slot 82 provides for displacement of the connector 84 therein as the connector rides around the ends of the respective sprocket 76, 78. Thus, it will be readily apparent that as the motor 56 drives the endless chain 80, the carriage 42 and the spray head 50 carried thereon will traverse the beam 38 in a back and forth manner accordingly.

If desired, the distance which the carriage or trolley 42 may travel may be adjusted by varying the distance between sprockets or pulleys 76 and 78. This is attained by supporting the shaft 86 of the idler sprocket 78 in .a bearing member 88 which is adjustably supported within the beam member 38. Accordingly the beam 38 is also provided with a longitudinally extending slot 39 through which the bearing 85 and idler shaft 86 extends. Thus the slot 39 provides for limited adjustment of the idler shaft 86 and sprocket 78 longitudinally of the beam 38.

To effect the adjustment of the bearing block 88 supporting the idler shaft and sprocket 78 longitudinally of the beam and to maintain the same in adjusted position, an adjusting screw 90 is provided. One end of the screw 90 connects to the bearing member 88 and the other end extends through the end of the beam, the extended end having a nut 92 to fix the adjustment of the idler 78 longitudinally of the beam. Accordingly, to elfect longitudinal adjustment of the idler shaft 86 and sprocket 78 toward and away from the driven sprocket 76, the adjusting screw 90 is rotated in one direction or the other accordingly. Of course, it will be understood that when such adjustment is made, the chain 80 must be adjusted accordingly. Also the adjustment may be used to vary the tension of the belt or chain 80.

If desired limit switches 94, 95 may be disposed adjacent each end of the rail. The switches are adapted to be actuated by adjustable actuators 96, 97, in the forms of screws, connected to the carriage 42. Thus by setting the length of the adjusting screws 96, 97 which are disposed in alignment with respective limit switches 94, 95 the operation of the spray apparatus may be controlled I accordingly.

If desired, the bracket 60 supporting the motor means 56 and the drive sprocket 68 may be adjustably supported to the end support by means of a plurality of adjusting screws 62 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, by varying the distance between the bracket 60 and the end support 36 by proper adjustment of screws 62, the driven chain or belt 74 connecting the driven sprocket 70 with the drive sprocket 68 may be tensioned as desired.

In operation, whenever the rotary conveyor 24 has been indexed so that the paired tanks carried thereby are positioned in spray station 263, the construction of the rotary conveyer is such, as described in the aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 3,306,426, that an orientation means is actuated to maintain the paired tanks stationary in the spray station, so that the trolley 42 of the spraying apparatus when actuated traverses a reciprocating movement relative to the stationary tanks.

Accordingly, the spray head 50 automatically coats the covers of the tanks with a suitable glaze coating. Upon the completion of the spraying operation, the limit switches actuated by the trolley may be used to terminate the operation of the spray apparatus until the next succeeding pair of spray tanks are indexed to the spray station.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily noted that the spray head 50 is directed downwardly and away from the working mechanism of the spray apparatus. Also, the traveling cover 54 and associate base member 32 further insures the shielding of the sprayed material from contact with the working mechanism of the apparatus.

While the instant invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof it will be readily understood and appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for spraying articles of manufacture with a fluent spray to coat the same comprising:

(a) a support structure including a horizontally dis posed base member having a slot formed therein,

(b) a pair of upright end supports connected to the opposed ends of said base member,

(c) a hollow beam connected between said end supports in spaced relationship to said base member, (d) upper and lower rail members connected to the opposed outer longitudinal sides of said beam,

(e) each of said rail members having a substantially V-shaped groove extending along the length thereof,

(f) a trolley means including:

(g) a pair of spaced side plates, said side plates being disposed on opposite sides of said beam,

(11) wheel means journalled between said side plates,

(i) said wheel means including a plurality of axles interconnecting said side plates, said axles being disposed above and below said beam,

(j) a wheel journalled on each of said axles so as to be in rolling engagement within the groove formed in the respective upper and lower rails,

(k) spacer sleeves disposed on each of said axles on either side of said wheels for maintaining said wheels in alignment with said rails,

(l) a spray head means connected to one side of said trolley, said spray head means extending through the slot formed in said base,

(m) means for driving said trolley back and forth along said rails,

(11) said drive means including a motor means,

(0) a drive sprocket operatively connected in driving relationship with said motor means,

(p) a pair of driven sprockets rotatably journalled on said beam,

(q) a flexible endless drive connection connecting one of said driven sprockets in driving relationship with said drive sprocket,

(r) an idler sprocket spaced from said pair of driven sprockets, said idler being rotatabl y journalled on said beam,

(s) a second flexible endless drive connecting said other driven sprocket in driving relationship with said idler sprocket,

(t) means connecting said trolley to said second flexible endless drive whereby said trolley is pulled along said rails in a reciprocating movement when said motor means is actuated,

(u) said connecting means including a vertical slot formed in the side plate of said trolley,

(v) and a connector extending laterally of said second flexible drive and extending within said vertical slot whereby the transversing of said connector along the flights of said second flexible drive about its respective sprockets effects movement of said trolley and connected spray head back and forth along said rails,

(W) and means for adjusting the travel of said trolley along said rails,

(x) said latter means including a slot formed in said beam,

(y) a bearing supporting said idler sprocket adjustably supported within said slot,

(2) and an adjusting screw operatively connected to said bearing for adjusting the position of said bearing and connected sprocket along said beam slot to vary the distance between said driven sprockets and idler sprocket.

2. An apparatus for spraying and coating articles of manufacture with a fluent spray comprising:

(a) a support structure including an elongated base member having a slot opening,

(b) a pair of upright end supports connected to the opposed ends of said base member,

() a hollow beam connected to the end supports in spaced relationship to said base member,

(d) upper and lower rails connected to the opposed upper and lower sides of said beam,

(e) each of said rails having a guide groove extending along the length thereof,

(f) a trolley mounted for movement along said rails,

(g) said trolley including wheel means disposed in rolling engagement with the respective grooves in the upper and lowertrails,

(h) a spray head connected to said trolley, said spray head extending through the slot opening in said base member,

(i) means for driving said trolley back and forth along said rails,

(i) said driving means including a motor,

(k) an endless drive mounted on said beam, said endless drive including an upper flight and a lower flight for determining the reciprocal movement of said trolley,

(1) means connecting said trolley to said endless drive,

and

(111) means connecting said motor means in driving relationship with said endless drive whereby said trolley is pulled along said rails in a reciprocating movement when said motor means is actuated,

(n) said base being of a size to alford protection of the trolley and drive means against spray.

3. An apparatus for spraying and coating articles of manufacture with a fluent spray comprising:

(a) a support structure including an elongated horizontally disposed base member having a slot formed therein;

(b) a pair of upright end supports connected to the opposed ends of said base member;

(0) a hollow beam connected between said end supports in spaced relationship to said base member; (d) upper and lower rail members connected to the opposed outer longitudinal sides of said beam;

(e) each of said rail members having a guide groove extending along the length thereof;

(f) a trolley including:

(g) a pair of spaced side plates, said side plates being disposed on opposite sides of said beam,

(h) wheel means journalled between said side plates,

(i) said wheel means including a plurality of axles interconnecting said side plates, said axles being disposed above and below said beam,

(j) a wheel journalled on each of said axles as so to be in rolling engagement within the groove formed in the respective upper and lower rail members,

(k) means disposed on said axles for maintaining said wheels in alignment with said rail members;

(1) a spray head connected to said trolley, said spray head extending through the slot formed in said base member;

(m) means for driving said trolley back and forth along said rail members;

(11) said driving means including a motor;

(0) an endless drive mounted on said beam, said endless drive including an upper flight and a lower flight for determining the reciprocal movement of said trolley;

(p) means connecting said trolley to said endless drive;

and

(q) means connecting said motor means in driving relationship with said endless drive whereby said trolley is pulled along said rails in a reciprocating movement when said motor means is actuated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,633 6/1937 Brackett 118-323 2,488,519 11/1949 Andrews et al. 118-323 X 2,588,125 3/1952 Knowland et al. 118-323 X 2,728,238 12/1955 Paasche 118-323 X 2,840,037 6/1958 Verba 118-323 X 2,910,993 11/1959 Phillips 118-323 2,925,801 2/1960 Bivens et al. 118-323 X 3,052,212 9/1962 MacArthur et al. 118-323 3,081,736 3/1963 Brady 118-323 3,225,777 12/ 1965 Shelton et al 239-186 X 3,266,729 8/1966 Baskett 239-186 F DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

